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Chase County Kansas Historical Sketches

1863 - 2003





KNUTE ROCKNE MEMORIAL By Jay Blankenship "Knute Rockne" Shrine, Bazaar, Kansas

Knute Rockne and seven other passengers were killed in an airplane crash near Bazaar, Kansas, on March 31, 1931. The crash site is located two and one-half miles southwest of Bazaar.

The plane, a TWA tri-motor, was enroute from Kansas City, Missouri to Wichita, Kansas. Three persons witnessed the crash. They were Clarence McCracken, Arthur Baker and Edward Baker.

Besides Knute Rockne those in the plane were Robert Fry, pilot; Herman J. Mathias, co-pilot; John Happer, representative of General Sports Co., Inc.; Waldo B. Miller, representative of Aetna Life Insurance; C.A. Robrecht, President of Robrecht Brothers Co.; H.J. Christen; and Spencer Goldthwaite, advertising manager.

Two memorials were erected. One is located at Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana and the other is located at the crash site. Both honor one of the greatest coaches of all time.

An estimated 1,500 automobiles visited the crash site on Sunday after the tragedy. Chase County Sheriff, Pete Deering, deputized Roy Beedle to guard against looting.

Rockne crash to be featured on History Channel.

The 1931 crash of the Fokker F-10 passenger plane carrying Knute Rockne and others will be one of the deadly and controversial engineering failures featured on Modern Marvels: Engineering disaster on the History Channel on Nov. 10.

The program uses 3-D animation, forensic engineering experts and footage of the actual disasters to understand what went wrong and how the disasters have led to improvements.

The Rockne piece will be the second of five short stories lasting 8-10 minutes on the Wednesday, Nov. 2, program. The program will air at 9 p.m., said a Chase County Historical Society news release.

Easter Heathman of rural Bazaar, one of the first to the site of the 1931 crash, and the Chase County Historical Society will be featured in the program. The Chase County portions of the program were shot on location on Sept. 9, 2005.



Chase County Centennial, 1872 - 1972


Rockne crash to be featured on History Channel The 1931 crash of the Fokker F-10 passenger plane carrying Knute Rockne and others will be one of the deadly and controversial engineering failures featured on Modern Marvels: Engineering disaster on the History Channel on Nov. 10. The program uses 3-D animation, forensic engineering experts and footage of the actual disasters to understand what went wrong and how the disasters have led to improvements. The Rockne piece will be the second of five short stories lasting 8-10 minutes on the Wednesday, Nov. 2, program. The program will air at 9 p.m., said a Chase County Historical Society news release. Easter Heathman of rural Bazaar, one of the first to the site of the 1931 crash, and the Chase County Historical Society will be featured in the pro. gram. The Chase County portions of the program were shot on location on Sept. 9, 2005. Former Chase Countian receives White House appointment Jennifer Crawford Chase County Leader-News It doesn't happen all that much in our neck of the woods�Chase Aunty. But on Oct. 17, 2005 Jim Link, former Cedar Point area resident, received a presidential appointment to the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Grain Inspection. Packers and Stockyards Administration. Link will be JIM LInk< the head of the department located in Washington, D.C. Link, a former Emporia State University and Texas Christian University graduate began his duties in Washington on Oct. 17. His responsibilities will include facilitating the marketing of livestock, poultry, meat, cereals, oilseeds and related agricultural products and promoting fair and competitive trading practices for the overall benefit ofAmerican consumers. Link and wife, Karin, have lived in Texas since their departure from Kansas in the 1970's. They have two sons and four grandchildren. Link had been associated with the Ranch Management program at TCU for over 29 years until his recent appointment.

Chase County Submitted Historical Sketches
compiled and abstracted from the Chase County Courant, Chase County Leader, other sources and newspapers
by Lorna Marvin
Please submit your historical sketches.


Return to Chase County Submitted Historical Sketches


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